A Storm Brews
As the Moon rose each night for the next few months, Iroh and Cadence made their way to the cave of the Spirit Spring to meet with Master Pakku, who taught Cadence water bending. Learning the movements was easy enough for her. Mastering them was more difficult, as was getting the water to actually follow her. Pakku was...less than encouraging to Cadence, merely telling her to try again each time she failed, until she collapsed from exhaustion each night.
At the end of the first night, Iroh had tried to talk to Pakku about it. "Pakku, don't you think you are being a little harsh with her?" he had asked worriedly. "She's not even two years old..."
Pakku had sniffed in response. "If she doesn't like my teaching method, she is welcome to seek instruction elsewhere in the world," he had replied, and that was the last word said on the matter.
Cadence, unfortunately, proved to be just as stubborn when Iroh had asked her about it. "Master Pakku agreed to teach me," she'd replied firmly. "I'm certain he knows what he's doing. I just have to get better."
Admittedly, after the first night, Pakku had been careful not to push Cadence to the point she collapsed. Iroh had carried her into the spirit spring after that, and the two koi swimming in it - one black, one white - had immediately swum over to pull her into the spring. They had then glared accusingly at Pakku. Iroh had no idea why that had caused a change, but he had his suspicions. Cadence had ended each night since playing with the koi in the spring, much to Iroh's amusement. He wasn't sure how Pakku felt about watching it, as he refused to say anything.
As he watched Pakku demonstrate the movements to Cadence and put her through her paces, Iroh began practicing the movements himself. True, he couldn't bend water, but there was no telling when the knowledge might come in handy. Besides, he had decided he needed to stay in shape to keep up with Cadence. As he went through the movements, he let himself think on how they could be applied to fire bending.
Eventually, Cadence began to learn the techniques, and to control her Waterbending. Ice no longer broke and water no longer surged when she lost her temper, which did happen on occasion. She grew exhausted less often at night, and her rest in the spirit spring became easier, letting her spend more time playing with the koi and less recovering from the training.
One day as the sun began to set, Pakku looked up at gathering clouds. "There's going to be a storm tonight," he stated bluntly. "Sleet, hail, and possibly lightning. A rather fierce polar storm."
"So...does that mean no training tonight?" Cadence asked worriedly.
"Nonsense!" Pakku countered. "It is a perfect opportunity to test your abilities by redirecting the sleet and shattering the hail stones. The storm will start one hour after sunset. We will be there 30 minutes before then to prepare."
Iroh swallowed nervously, an unknowable fear gripping his gut at Cadence's eager response.
Iroh stood under the cave entrance to the Spirit Spring, staring as Pakku and Cadence fought the storm. Things were going well so far, as redirecting the sleet proved surprisingly easy for Cadence, especially when she used her wings to guide it. Only two hailstones had found their mark, and those against her barrel where she was only slightly bruised. Oddly enough, it seemed that she was more effective at water bending when countering the weather than when trying to manipulate inert water, ice, or snow in her environment. He made a note of that in a scroll he'd been preparing, detailing with words and illustrations Cadence's growth and development.
A sudden panic struck him, a fear with no explanation. Looking up towards the sky, he saw a few lightning bolts dancing between the clouds, and his throat clenched. Something was about to happen, something bad.
He saw the first sparks starting to form, and he ran out into the storm, trying to outrun the lightning he felt coming. He barely heard Pakku's shouted directive to back off or Cadence's shout of confusion. Placing himself over Cadence, he thrust two fingers of his right hand straight up just in time to catch the bolt of lightning that had come from the storm straight towards her.
As the lightning entered his hand, his thoughts raced, trying to outrun the lightning much as he had. Okay, I've caught the lightning, now what do I do with it? I can't hold it in my arm, it's already racing into me.
I can't let it hit my heart, that will kill me. But it's going down...
My stomach. The sea of chi. I can hold it there.
His left arm came up, rapidly dragging two fingers down his right arm and into his stomach in the flowing motions of Waterbending. To his amazement, he felt the lightning follow, diving into his stomach.
It worked...now what? His thoughts continued to race as he felt the lightning fighting his control. I can't keep it in my stomach for long...I need to get rid of it...where can I send it? Can't send it into the ground, it's following my left hand. If I bend that far, I'll lose control of it.
My left hand...if I can't send it down, can I send it back up?
Acting on the thoughts, he dragged his left arm upward from his stomach, the lightning racing along his left arm and leaping out his two fingers, launching back up into the sky.
As the lightning left his body and he was finally able to breathe again, he noticed Pakku and Cadence staring up at him in awe. He blinked twice. "Let's not do that again..." he managed to say before he fell over backwards, his world going dark.
When Iroh opened his eyes, he found several young women surrounding him, water glowing around their hands as they pressed their hands to his arms, his chest, and his stomach. Master Pakku was standing over him, a smirk on his face. "An excellent sentiment, Iroh," he stated simply. "Don't do that again...at least not until you perfect that technique. And stick to man made lightning from other fire benders. I doubt you'll be so lucky next time you try to catch nature's wrath."
Iroh managed a few coughing breaths. "Cadence?" he asked worriedly.
Smiling, one of the women shifted to the side so he could see beyond her. They were in the cave of the Spirit Spring, and Cadence sat in the spring herself, the white koi on her right, the black on her left, all three peeking over the edge of the spring to watch him worriedly. When he managed a reassuring smile, Cadence breathed a sigh of relief, her piscine companions returning to their interrupted swim.
"Daddy," Cadence breathed in awe, "what did you do?"
Iroh coughed a few more times, his breathing getting easier. "I...redirected the lightning."
"How?"
Smiling, Iroh pushed himself into a sitting position as the women pulled back. "Why don't I teach you?" he offered, causing Cadence's eyes to light up in eagerness.
As the women left, Pakku handed Iroh his Pai Sho set. "We should play sometime," he stated simply.
Iroh stared at the tile sitting on top. It was the White Lotus tile...but it had more notches around the outer edge than it had previously. "How long...was I unconscious?" he asked.
"Three days," Pakku replied. "Cadence has not moved from the spring since. Her vigil interrupted her training."
Seeing several albatrosses wheeling overhead just outside the cave, Iroh smiled softly, lifting the White Lotus tile. Only a member of the Order would know what those notches would mean.
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So, that's how Iron learned how to redirect lightning. I get the feeling that skill will come in handy if Cadence and Azula get into fights.
Another skill for the Ponyta to master!
Ironically Cadence would probably have been just fine, since ponies zap each other with lightning for practical jokes.
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
But looking back, I think you're moving just a little too fast with the story. I know you( and us) want to get to stuff in the story as quickly as possible, but It feels like you're skipping things. Like with Toph, I feel like there should have been at least one more chapter with her and Cadence just bonding.
6458391 probably not. Unicorn electricity is likely much more controlled than a storm, and they can regulate the voltage. A true lightning bolt would have probably done a hell of a lot of damage to Cadance.
6458414
And if I'd had material for it, I would have included it. But I didn't.
Well that was 'shocking' to say the least.
6458450 Missed opportunity? I also thought that this vid was appropriately funny seeing as Iroh just bended lightning.
6458427
Counterpoint: It's pegasi who charge lightning, and are quite capable of bottling it apparently, but even assuming safety regulations, Nightmare Moon uses it as an attack, very likely not pulling the punch. It definitely hurt the pegasi in question but as far as I know they were fine after. Cadence isn't a pegasus though; she's an alicorn.
You know what's interesting? In The Last Airbender, water benders were only found at the poles and the swamp, and since Katara was the only water bender at the south pole, and the swamp is only home to tribals, that means that Yakone is from the Northern Water Tribe and was likely there when the Gaang arrived at the end of Book One, since in The Legend of Korra, he looked to be the same age as them. In the story, he could even be just a few houses from where Iroh and Cadance are right now.
6458503
Actually, based on timing, I don't think he's born yet.
I was expecting her to get hit by the bolt and come out of it with nothing more than a poofed mane.
OML OML OML I
the new cover!!!!1111!11
out!
I don't know what it is about fillies that I find so adorable, and I don't care! I just wanna d'aw my little
6458461
Before Cadence became an Alicorn, she was a Pegasus, so it is unlikely that her born Pegasus affinity for cloud manipulation, and resistance to weather got weaker.
detailing with words and illustrations Cadence's growth and development
1. Don't you mean Illustrating?
Who knew fishes could give the stink eye.
Least we know she isn't in a fishy situation.
All hail Cadance and yet, she redirects it.
I'd make a shocking joke but 6458437 beat me to it. He must've been like a flash to post it that fast.
6458628
Nope. Words and illustrations in the document detail Cadence's growth.
isn't it a little late to be writing an avatar fanfiction?
6458430 Bummer. Well, while I'm thinking of it, here's a little feels moment to consider using after Toph and Cadence reunite. Toph frequently hangs her head, mostly because she "see's" with her feet, but also partially because( in my opinion) Toph feels, very mildly, insecure about her looks( as seen in the show after Katarra takes Toph to the spa). Maybe about her eyes too. Cadence, sensing this, would encourage Toph to always hold her head up high and let her inner beauty shine. And if others couldn't see that beauty, then they were the blind ones. Then Cadence tells her that she is indeed very cute and will surely grow up to be a real beauty who will steal the hearts of millions.
6458641
Tatsurou is never late! lol
6458641 It's NEVER too late for Avatar fanfiction.
6458632 Darn, guess I went fish eyed there for a little bit. Gotta stop seperating the sentences when I do that.
That was fun, may I have another? Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
6458437
(1:12-1:29)
6458628
I need to watch Avatar: The Last Airbender, oi oi oi.
Nicely done dude, once again! This was an awesome chapter well done, hehehe eue
I'll leave this here... because somehow Youtube lacks the appropriate one.
Nicely done man!
Keep it up!
6459119
Convenient time slots.
It will be addressed.
That new cover art is so great.
I love how much time Cadance is spending with the spirit koi.
6458669 Amen to that.
maybe I'll read it...
6458661 I could see something like that, but only if Toph did something to trigger it instead of Cadance just sensing the feeling.
Here's how I imagine it happening. Everyone is in Ba Sing Se. Just like in Gaoling, Cadance decides to explore the city on her own and runs into Toph and Katara during their girl's day out. She decides to join them and alters how the event plays out. Afterwards, Cadance invites them back for tea. Katara declines while Toph agrees and gets to reunite with that old man that gave her good advice.
It could be taken a step further actually. If we assume all the shorts from Tales of Ba Sing Se took place on the same day (which probably isn't true), then Cadance might be leaving Iroh alone, so he can celebrate his son's birthday. Considering the size of the city though, she wouldn't really need a reason other then curiosity to explore.
Yikes. I'm glad Iroh is okay. I can't wait for more and the new cover looks great.
6458461 She isn't in equestria, it most likley would have killed her because its naturaly formed lightning.
6457614 yeah i know
im just too use to seeing him as a jerk even though thats just from seeing one side of the story
Jerk.
Heh.
Hm... Iroh said that he learned how to deflect lightning from waterbenders, so I think I know where this is going...
Oh dear.
Oh dear...
Interesting...
Oh hell.
Oh boy...
You certainly have enough stomach.
OK, it's working, now where to discharge it?
That works.
Agreed.
Agreed, I doubt even Ozai's fiercest lightning could compare to the full fury of true lightning. I wonder, could lightning redirection potentially work against Sith Lightning?
By using water bending movements, he used his fingers to act as a lightning rod, redirected it to his stomach, his sea of chi to briefly but safely contain it, and redirected it with his other fingers in a relatively safe manner. He basically used how fluid waterbending movements are and how they are not for outright blocking things like say, Earthbending, but redirecting things, using the force for different purposes.
Wow.
And what do they mean?
6459974
For a member of the White Lotus, the number of notches around his or her White Lotus tile - and the specific pattern therein - denote their rank within the order (at least, as far as this story is concerned.)
Basically, for developing the technique to redirect lightning by combining water and fire bending techniques, he's been promoted.
6459997
Ah, gotcha.
*Looks at new cover art* so cute.... HHHHHNNNNNNNNNGGGGG!
The guy never learned one of the first things about physical gods: NEVER MAKE THEM MAD AT YOU!!!!
YOU RIDE IT!!!
Nice chapter, especially the mental image at the end of Cadence and the two koi peeking over the edge of the spring, utterly adorable!!! Iroh got a promotion in the White Lotus and Pakku has gotten a bit of humble pie from the Spirits.
Nice detailing of the origin of Iroh's lightning redirection technique. I figured we might see that the instant he started following along with Cadence's lessons, and it was awesome to read.
6458742 Ah, I see.
6459320 It's definitely interesting.
Great story!
I wonder whether helping cadence train and his rigorous notes and observations will result in a more experienced bending style from iron, if not outright stronger if he doesn't let it lax as he did for a little while in cannon.
I'll always remember how badass Iroh is when he redirects lightning.
How long until we meet Aang now? You said earllier that it's 11 years before Aang, if I remember right. So far, the story 16 months along and then the training with Pakku. So how far along is the story now? 9 years until Aang?
6633381
It is not 11 years before Aang, I didn't say that.
Iroh's son died five years before Aang. Zuko's scar is two years before Aang.
6507024 And I always remember the 'wuff' face with the wild jumped out hair from when he redirects the storm's lightning when on the ship with Zuko.
my what a shocking development, and what a cold shoulder from Paku
What do the notches mean? Just had to ask.
Well, this was interesting.
s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/23/f8/b6/23f8b6b70fbdb5c83fdf3d5ce37b089d.jpg
That's all I got to say about Iroh.
7447508
You know what I say? He sounds like Aku, the Shapeshifting Master of Darkness.